The 2023 Jeep Compass vs. the 2023 Kia Sportage is a highly competitive matchup between industry front runners for the best, modern SUV. You’re going to find great power, tech, and safety in either one of these cars. However, if you’re looking to get the most out of your SUV with the most budget-friendly option that includes everything you need- Compass is the one-stop shop for most drivers.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Off-roading capabilities excel on the Compass over the Sportage.
- The classier interior on the Sportage, but overall high-quality on both.
- Nearly Identical EPA ratings for the Compass and the Sportage.
- More inclusive, standard safety and tech features on the Compass.
POWERTRAINS: ESSENTIALLY A TIE
Both powertrains for the Compass and the Sportage are reasonable for a mid-sized SUV; you’re going to get average gas mileage and solid horsepower on either engine. This is not where either vehicle pulls ahead of the other, as they both have a very similar engine under the hood. The Compass has the choice of one powertrain to choose from, a 2.0-liter 4 Cylinder gasoline engine with 200 horsepower. The Sportage also has one engine to choose from, a 2.5-liter 4 Cylinder Gasoline Engine with 187 horsepower. While it isn’t much, the Compass does have the advantage here. Even still, you’re going to average about 32 mpg and 24 mpg on the highway and city respectively for these vehicles. The main difference comes from what you can do with the engine of the Compass when it works in tandem with its more powerful drive train.
OFF-ROADING & TOWING EDGE: JEEP COMPASS
The advantage of siding with the Jeep is that Compass packs a little bit of off-roading potential in all their cars – you don’t have to own a Wrangler to tap into the off-roading power that Jeep is known for. With the Compass, adventure awaits you more fully with its powerful four-wheel drive system. It’s something the Sportage doesn’t possess. You’re going to have more power over your terrain as your drivetrain pulls you through the roughest obstacles, over the Sportage’s all-wheel or front-wheel drive options. Need to take some heavy cargo with you? You’re better off hitching with the Compass, the adventure SUV. The maximum towing capacity in the Compass is 2,000 pounds compared to Sportage's 1,653 pounds.
SIMILAR FEATURES, BETTER STANDARD OPTIONS: 2023 COMPASS
Both the Jeep Compass and Kia Sportage are equipped with advanced technology features, but we’ve found what the Compass offers at its base level is a little more useful than what the Sportage delivers. The Jeep Compass offers an available Uconnect infotainment system, featuring a touchscreen display, smartphone integration, and top-of-the-line navigation controls which forward pushes its more adventure-styled build. Similarly, the Kia Sportage comes with an available UVO link infotainment system, offering the same features but with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Safety is a crucial aspect of any vehicle, and both the Jeep Compass and Kia Sportage prioritize it. The Jeep Compass incorporates a few more features that are more well-rounded than the Sportage, including blind-spot monitoring, cross-traffic alerts, keyless start, and heated mirrors. All of these are offered on a base level for the Compass and aren’t seen on the Sportage. Both offer the ability for forward collision warnings and lane departure warnings to help assist with lane keeping.
THE WINNER
The 2023 Jeep Compass is going to offer drivers better towing, off-roading capabilities, and overall, more standard features that are useful for everyday drives or adventuring. It’s nice to have premium interiors that the Sportage offers, but when buying an SUV that is meant to take drivers years into the future – it's best to side with the option that is most viable for daily drives with features you’ll use most often.